Design of Plate Girder for Load Carrying Capacity

This article discusses the design of a plate girder for load carrying capacity. It includes solved examples and calculations for designing the girder, checking the bending stress, load bearing stress, and end plate. The article also covers the types of plate girder construction and the stresses and loads involved. Desklib provides study material, assignments, essays, and dissertations on this topic.

Solution
Q1)
Q1a)
Sway mechanism
H(θh1) = Mpcθ + Mpcθ h1
h 2
At B At B At C
H = M pc θ+ M pc θ h1
h2
θ h 1
θh1
B C D
θ
θ
A
θh1
Q1b)
Beam mechanism
VθL1 = Mpbθ + Mpb(θ+θ L1
L2 ) + Mpbθ L1
L 2
At B At C At D
VθL1 = 2Mpbθ + Mpbθ L1
L 2 + Mpcθ L1
L 2
V = 2 M pb θ+ M pb θ L 1
L 2 +M pc θ L 1
L 2
θL 1

θL1
θ θ L1
L 2
Q1c)
i) Combined sway
δW1 = Hθh1 + VθL1
= 2Mpbθ + Mpbθ L1
L 2 + Mpcθ L1
L 2 + Mpcθ + Mpcθ h1
h 2 - Mpcθ - Mpbθ
H(θh1) + VθL1 = Mpbθ + Mpbθ L1
L 2 + Mpcθ L1
L 2 + Mpcθ h1
h 2
Substituting
5*H* θ + V¿ θ*2 = 200*θ + 200* θ∗2
2 + 100* θ∗2
2 + 100*θ 5
3
5Hθ + 2Vθ = 2000
3 θ
ii) Interaction diagram
sway diagram
θh1
B C D
θ
θ
A

θh1
Beam diagram
θL1
θ θ L1
L 2
iii) Equilibrium
D Mpc
E HE
∑ M about D = 0
3HE – Mpc = 0
HE = Mpc
3 = 100
3 KN
∑ Fx = 0
∑ M about E = 0
-2V + 2H + 3H = 0
5 * 200
3 = 2V

V = 500
3 KN
Thus the moment at E, from a free body diagram of ABC
∑ M About C = 0
2VA + 5HA – Mc = 0
Mc = 200 KN
Since there is a plastic hinged at C of value MpC = 200 KNM, we have the equilibrium
H = 256 KN
V = 300 KN
Mpc = 120 KN
Mpb = 240 KN
L1 = 2, L2 = 3, h2 = 3, H1= 5 M
∑ M About C = 0
2*300 + 5*256 – Mc 0
Mc = 1880 KNM
∑ M About C = 0
3HE – 120 = 0
HE = 40 KN
Moment at B
256 *2.5 = 640 KNm
Moment at D
1880 – 300 *3 = 980 KNm

BMD
640 KNm 120 KNm
B C D
640 KNm
A 1880 KNm
Part B
Span of the welded girder = 9 m
It carries a load of approximately 600 KN each
The loads are at a distance of 3 m from each end of the girder
The girder carries uniform distributed load of 30 KN/m, which include the self-weight of girder
Designing the girder
600 KN 30 kn/m 600 KN
A C E D B
3 m 3 m 3 m

∑ M B = 0
RA * 9 = 600*6 + 600*3 + 30*9 * 9/2 = 6615 KN
RA = 735
RB = 600 + 600 + 30 * 9 – 735 = 735 KN
Mc = 735 * 3 – 30 * 3 * 1.5 = 2160 KNm
MB = 735 * 4.5 – 600 * 1.5 – 30 *4.5* 4.5/2 = 2103.75 KNm
The overall depth of girder = span/10 = 900 mm
Assume that the girder has 30 mm thick therefore the allowance Pb = 140 N/mm2
If we assume that the flange plate resist the bending moment then the moment will be resisted by
lever arm of about 860 mm
Flange area = (2103.75 *106)/(860 *140) = 1.75 * 104 mm2
If we assume the flange that was used is of dimensions 350 mm by 50 mm
Assume the allowance shear stress is 100 N/mm2
Depth of web plate is 450 mm and shears 735 KN at girder support
Thickness of web plate = (735 *103)/(800 *100) = 9.19 mm
If a thickness of 20 mm was used
Checking the bending stress
IXX = (2 * 50 * 350 * 4252) + (20 *8003)/12 = 7.18 *109 mm4
fbc = (2103.75 *106 *735)/ (7.18 * 109) = 215.36 N/mm2 (it is safe)
load bearing stress are required at the support under the point loads
The spacing should not exceed
1.5d = 1200mm
180t = 180 *20 = 3600
Stiffeners under 500 KN
Assuming the stiffeners each 150 mm by 20 mm

Bearing stress = (600 * 103)/(2*135 * 20) = 111.11 (safe )
The area of centerline of web
IXX = (20 * 3003)/12 = 4.5 * 107 mm4
A = (300 * 10) + (150 * 20*2) = 9, 000 mm2
rXX = √ 4.5∗107
9000 = 70.71 mm
l/rXX = (0.7 *800)/75 = 7.9
Pc = 148.2 N/mm2
Fc = (735 *103)/(9000) = 81.67 N/mm2
A smaller size stiffener was used
End plate
Assume the end plate of 20 mm thick was used
Checking the bearing
Bearing stress = (735 * 103)/(350 *20) = 105 (safe )
Checking the section acting at the strut
A = 350 * 20 + (200 *10) = 9000mm2
IXX = (20 * 3503)/12 = 7.14 * 107 mm4
rXX = √ 7.14∗107
9000 = 89.12 mm
l/rXX = (0.7 *800)/89.12 = 6.3
Pc = 151.6 N/mm2
Fc = (735 *103)/(9000) = 81.67N/mm2
Assume the weld stretch = 300 N/mm
Approximately the welded length = (735 *103)/300 = 2450 mm
Part B (ii)

Minimum yield strength at nominal thickness 16 mm
For steel S275 = 275 N/mm2
Tensile strength between 3 mm and 16 mm = 370 to 530 Mpa
Dead load
s.w = 20 KN
point load w1d = 200 KN, w2d = 200 Kn
imposed load
udl = 40 KN/m
point load, w1d = 300 KN, w2d = 300 KN
720 KN 40 kn/m 720 KN
B E K G J
9 m 7 m 9 m
Total weight = 1.2 D.L + 1.6 L.L
Load w1d = 1.2*200 + 1.6*300 = 720 KN
Load w2d = 1.2 * 200 + 1.6* 300 = 720 KN
∑ MJ = 0
RB * 25 = 720*16 + 720*9 + 40*25 * 25/2 = 1220 KN
RJ = 720 + 720 + 40 * 25 – 1220 = 1220 KN
ME = 1220 * 9 – 40 * 9 * 4.5 = 9360 KNm
MK = 1220 * 12.5 – 720 * 3.5 – 40 *12.5 * 12.5/2 = 9605 KNm
Girder section

The overall depth of girder = span/10 = 25000/10 = 2500 mm
Take the cover to be 40 mm thick therefore the allowance stress bending Pb = 275N/mm2
If we assume that the flange plate resist the bending moment then the moment will be resisted by
lever arm of about 2460 mm
Flange area = (9605 *106)/(2460 *275) = 1.42 * 104 mm2
If we assume the flange that was used is of dimensions 300 mm by 50 mm
Depth of web plate is 2400 mm and shears 1220 KN at girder support
Thickness of web plate = (1220 *103)/(2400 *100) = 5.08mm
If a thickness of 10 mm was used
Checking the bending stress
IXX = (2 * 50 * 300 * 12252) + (10 *24003)/12 = 1.156 *1010 mm4
fbc = (9605 *106 *1200)/ (1.156 * 1010) = 997 N/mm2 (it is safe)
for the web the ratio d/t = 2400/10 = 240 the for the intermediate stiffener must be provided
Load bearing stress is required at the support under the point loads
The spacing should not exceed
1.5d = 3600 mm
180t = 180 *10 = 1800
From the table of allowable shear stress assume 100 N/mm2
Stiffeners under 720 KN
Try two stiffeners each 200 mm by 20 mm
Bearing stress = (720 * 103)/(2*175 * 20) = 103 N/mm2 (safe )
The area of centerline of web

IXX = (20 * 3303)/12 = 6.0 * 107 mm4
A = (500 * 10) + (200 * 20*2) = 13, 000 mm2
rXX = √ 6.0∗107
13000 = 67.94 mm
l/rXX = (0.7 *2400)/67.94 = 24.7
Pc = 142.4 N/mm2
fc = (720 *103)/(13000) = 55.38 N/mm2
it is advisable to use smaller size stiffener
take weld strength approximately to 450 N/mm
length = (720*103)/450 = 1600 mm
End plate
Assume the end plate of 20 mm thick was used
Checking the bearing
Bearing stress = (1220 * 103)/(500 *20) = 22 N/mm2
Maximum stiffener = 11t = 11 * 20 = 220 mm (safe)
Checking the section acting at the strut
A = 500 * 20 + (1900 *10) = 11.9 * 103 mm2
IXX = (20 * 5003)/12 = 20/83 * 107 mm4
rXX = √ 20.83∗107
11900 = 132.3 mm
l/rXX = (0.7 *2400)/132.3 = 12.7
Pc = 147.2 N/mm2
Fc = (1220*103)/ (11900) = 102.5 N/mm2
Try the weld strength = 500 N/mm
Approximately the welded length = (1220 *103)/500 = 2440mm

Intermediate stiffeners
Use stiffeners of dimensions of each 100 mm by 10 mm
Maximum value = 10t = 10 *20 = 200
Moment of inertia = I = (10 *2103)/12 = 7.73 * 105 mm4
Distance between stiffeners = 1800 mm
Required thickness of web = 1300/ 180 = 7.22 mm
For shear strength, t = 5.08
I = (1.5 *12003 *7.353)/(104 *18002) = 3.2 *106 mm
Web to flange web
Horizontal shear per weld
= (1220 *103 *300 *50 *625)/(1.156 *1010 *2) = 495 N/mm ( hence ok)
Part B(iii)

Design consideration
1.0 Considering the types plate girder
Plate girder construction involves use of welded steel plate which together will form an I
section
2.0 stresses and loads
application of loads to the plate girder are through stanchions, floor slab and floor beams,
which will be carried by the girder
the flange of the plate will carry the bending moments while the web will have a resistance to
the shear force.
To avoid plate from failing and working effectively the rules from BS449 will be used to
govern the with or thickness ratios of the plates to ensure no buckling takes place, the rules
also will govern the positions of both the intermediate and stiffeners.
3.0 plate girder depth
the depth should always be about 1/10 of the span for average loading.
The lightly loaded girders the depth will be between 1/15 to 1/20
The flange depth is always about 1/3 of the depth

Web buckling are prevented by provision of stiffeners
4.0 plate girders deflections
Clause 15 of BS449 will be used determining the deflection requirement
5.0 permissible stresses
if the plate thickness will exceed 40 mm a lower stress must be used
the permissible bending stress to be used are provided in BS 449
6.0 bending stresses
Clause 17, 27 and 32 of BS 449 sets section area for the girders
Properties for plate girders that includes moment of inertia, area, modulus of section and radii
of gyration are calculated from the first principle.
Maximum outstand for flange plate are always provided in BS 449, like for example
Compression flange = 16t
Tension flange = 20t
t is the thickness
7.0 shear stress of the web
will be determined by the formula
fq = shear
depthof web plate∗thickness of the web
Allowable shear stress will depenf on the value of d/t and stiffeners spacing
If the ratio of d/t exceed 85 vertical stiffeners will be required at a distance which will not
exceed 1.5d
The thickness should be more than 1/180